Strawberry plant named `Tethis`

ABSTRACT

A new strawberry plant providing large, firm fruit of bi-conical shape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of strawberry was created in a breeding program bycrossing as male parent the variety `Chandler` (U.S. Plant Pat. No.5,262) and as female parent an unpatented undistributed seedlingidentified as `FB-1`.

The resulting seedling of the new variety was grown and asexuallypropagated by runners(stolons) in Ferrara, Italy. Clones of the newvariety were further asexually propagated and extensively tested. Thispropagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traitsdisclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed andretained true to type through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety.The varietal denomination of the new variety is `Tethis.` Among thecharacteristics which distinguish the new variety from other varietiesare a combination of traits which include a vigorous plant and large,firm fruit.

COMPARISON TO CLOSEST VARIETY

The new variety is closest to the variety `Pajaro` (U.S. Plant Pat. No.4,538), but is distinguished therefrom by the following characteristics.

1. The plant of the new variety has more vigorous growth with biggerleaves.

2. Leaves show more blistering than in `Pajaro`.

3. Fruit of the new variety are bigger in size, with better fleshfirmness. The fruit of the new variety have bi-conical shape, while thefruit of `Pajaro` have cordate shape. The sepals of the fruit of the newvariety are bigger than the sepals of `Pajaro`, and are reflexed.

The following Table 1 compares leaf characteristics of `Pajaro` and`Tethis` as determined in Battipaglia, Italy, in the month of April:

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        CHARACTER           `Tethis`   `Pajaro`                                       ______________________________________                                        Leaf color (upper surface RHS)                                                                    139A       137A/B                                         Terminal leaflet mean length (cm)                                                                 9.2        9.6                                            Terminal Leaflet mean width (cm)                                                                  9.1        8.3                                            Terminal leaflet ratio (L/W)                                                                      1.01       1.15                                           Petiole mean length (cm)                                                                          17.7       16.9                                           Petiole mean width (mm)                                                                           4.7        4.4                                            Petiole pubescence  Medium-low Medium                                         Petiole: pose of hairs                                                                            Upwards    Upwards                                        Petiole: color (RHS)                                                                              141D       141D                                           ______________________________________                                    

The leaves of `Tethis` are medium large in size, glossy and rugose. Theterminal leaflet is as long as wide as described by the length/widthratio. Serrations at the margins are medium large, between 4.5 and 6 mmdeep, normally single, seldom double, with moderately obtuse apexes.Petioles are long and medium large in diameter, with medium to lowpubescence. Hairs grow upwards on the petiole. Stipules are in pairs andare green in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety,including fruit, foliage and flower, in color as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to make in color illustrations of this character.

FIG. 1 shows typical fruit in cross section illustrating the typicalflesh and flesh coloration, and conspicuous absent cavity, and wholefruit showing the bright red coloration;

FIG. 2 shows a whole fruit and petiole;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show the fruit and foliage;

FIG. 6 shows the flower and reproductive organs of the new variety; and

FIG. 7 shows the upper leaf surface of typical foliage of the newvariety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based uponobservations taken of plants and fruits grown "underglass," in Naples,Italy, in the month of April.

The following description is in accordance with UPOV terminology and thecolor terminology herein is in accordance with The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.). The color descriptions and otherphenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values anddescriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal,climatic and cultural conditions.

PROPAGATION

The new variety is principally propagated by way of runners (stolons).Although propagation by runners is presently preferred, other knownmethods of propagating strawberry plants, such as micropropagation, maybe used. The new variety roots well after transplanting.

The term "blistering" used herein refers to the texture or rugosityinherent to leaves and is generally a constant characteristic.

PLANT

Size: About 23 to 30 cm.

Preferred plant time: September in Naples, Italy; peak productionoccurring in April (see above Table 1).

Leaves:

Shape.--As long as wide, shape of base obtuse.

Color.--Upper side near 139A; underside near 136C.

Leaflet, number.--3. Texture: Strong blistering. Serration: Obtuse.

Growth habit.--Erect.

Regional or climatic growing preferences.--Warm, with low chilling

Peticoles, size and length.--(See above Table 1).

Runners.--Vigorous, of medium quantity.

Inflorescence:

Size and shape.--Mean flower diameter about 34 mm (measured on plantsgrown in Battipaglia, Italy, in April).

Inflorescence.--Mean length about 24.2 cm, about 10-13flower/inflorescence.

Flowers.--Normally about 5 petals/flower, petals are wider than long,ratio (L/W) about 0.8, color of petals in near 155D to 155C.

Sepals.--Normally about 10, calyx diameter about 28 mm.

Peduncles.--Upright hairs.

Pedicel.--Branching inflorescence, erect habit.

Abundance.--Abundant.

Color.--White, petals broader than long, overlapping.

Anthers and pollen.--Abundant pollen. Color: Yellow. Calyx size, sepalform and color: Big sepals, reflexed, inner calyx of same size as outercalyx.

Fruit:

Size and shape.--Large, prevalent shape, bi-conical, no significantdifferences between primary and secondary fruits (see Table 2 below).

Seed characteristics.--Inserted at the same level with surface, presenton all the surface.

Juiciness.--Medium.

Taste.--Good balance between sugar and acid.

Flesh color.--Near 40B.

Exterior surface.--Color: Near 45A. Glossiness: Strong. Shape:Bi-conical. Firmness: Strong.

Characteristics of flesh and core.--Flesh is firm, medium red, mediumcavity, good flavor.

Aroma.--Medium.

Keeping qualities.--Very good.

Disease resistance: Medium susceptibility to the principal strawberryroot diseases and downy mildew.

Winter or frost resistance: Not suited for high chilling areas.

In the following Table 2 the mean yield of market fruit and fruit sizeof `Tethis` are reported in comparison with `Pajaro`; data based onobservation of plants harvested from late March through first week ofJune in Battipaglia, Italy; production plants were cold stored plantsplanted in the first week of September of the year preceding the fruitharvest:

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                                       Market fruit yield                                                                         Fruit size                                        Mean 1996-97-98                                                                              g/plant      grams                                             ______________________________________                                        Tethis         602          20.2                                              Pajaro         532          19.5                                              ______________________________________                                    

In the following Table 3 the fruit characteristics of `Tethis` arereported in comparison with those of `Pajaro`. The data are taken fromplants harvested from late March through the first week of June 1998 inBattipaglia, Italy. The production plants were cold stored plantsplanted in the first week of September 1997.

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        1998     Soluble solids                                                                           Acidity   Flavor                                                                              Firmness                                  ______________________________________                                        Tethis   6.26       6.49      3.83  3.88                                      Pajaro   5.80       4.56      3.86  2.92                                      ______________________________________                                    

In the above Table 4 the soluble solids are expressed in Brix degrees,acidity in g/liter of citric acid, taste and firmness are rated 1 to 5,with 1 being the minimum and 5 being the maximum value. Five tests foreach characteristic were repeated during the harvest season. The meanfruit width (measured across the widest part of the berry) is about 4.2cm.; mean fruit length is about 5.3 cm; bud break takes place betweenJanuary 20-30. The first bloom is mid February and lasts about 10 daysas observed in Battipaglia, Italy.

The following table reports the beginning end of peak of harvest in 1997in Battipaglia, Italy, in comparison with `Pajaro`.

                  TABLE 4                                                         ______________________________________                                        Harvest 1997 in Battipaglia                                                                      `Tethis`   `Pajaro`                                        ______________________________________                                        Beginning          28/March   21/March                                        End                06/June    03/June                                         Peak               18/April   05/April                                        ______________________________________                                    

The fruit of `Tethis` were cooled to about 0° C. immediately afterharvest and kept in cold storage for 2 days. Shelf life at roomtemperature after the treatment was about 4-5 days. These values are theresults of the average of 5 trials during the harvest season in 1997.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry plant of the variety